Ideas for indoor play and physical activities recommended for 1-year-olds
Around age one, children become much more physically active—walking, running, and greatly expanding their range of movement.
Their curiosity also blossoms, and you’ll see major developmental changes: they begin to speak, express themselves, and assert their opinions.
For teachers wondering, “What should we play today?” with these energetic one-year-olds, this is a must-read!
Here are some recommended play ideas for one-year-olds.
You’ll find plenty of options—from activities like eurhythmics and mat play that let kids move their bodies to the fullest even indoors, to imaginative role-play, sensory play that uses their fingertips, and simple crafts that spark excitement.
Find the perfect activities for your children and have fun together!
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Indoor play and physical activity ideas recommended for 1-year-olds (21–30)
Play Park Together
In the interactive exercise “Let’s Play Park Together,” parents and children can try all kinds of movements: holding hands and jumping, cradling the children like treasures, playing bowling, and more.
Since you can switch roles in the bowling activity, if the parent plays the pins and does some funny moves, it might bring out smiles from the kids.
Finish by lifting the children up high for a grand finale! It’s sure to make a wonderful photo opportunity.
It may look difficult, but there’s actually not much dancing involved, so even one-year-olds should be able to enjoy it fully.
Smiley woof-woof
A one-year-old who loves being held.
How about some activities they can do while being cuddled by their parents or guardians? Support the children’s bodies with your arms and gently rock them—like an elephant’s trunk swaying.
You could also try a game where, like a crane, you lift the children and have them grab a stuffed toy.
Another recommendation is to sit with the child on your lap and move your bodies to the song “Riding the Bus.” Through these activities, you’ll not only enjoy the games but also create warm moments of connection with the children.
Balloon Basketball
Basketball with fluffy balloons!? Here’s a balloon-basketball idea.
When you think of balloons, you probably imagine them popping up and then drifting down slowly.
But apparently, with just a simple wrap of something, a balloon can transform into a ball.
All you need is a balloon, vinyl tape, and a pool noodle.
Inflate the balloon and wrap it with vinyl tape, and your ball is ready! Cut a pool noodle in half to make a hoop, and you can enjoy basketball at home.
It’s a fun idea that even infants can play with!
Playing with plastic raffia (Suzuran tape)
Colorful and fun! Let us introduce a playful activity with Suzuran tape (raffia tape).
All you need is Suzuran tape in several colors.
Pull the tape to start the play! While enjoying the crinkly texture and rustling sound, it’s also fun to roll it up or spread it out.
If you stick one end of the tape to the wall, children can crawl under it like a tunnel.
Put it in a dish or cup, and it starts to look like juice or rice! Be careful: stepping on the tape can be slippery and cause falls, so supervise the children closely while they play.
Riding a Molcar
https://www.tiktok.com/@harukaa_402/video/7152018389798489346The guinea pig–shaped cars, Molcars, are a stop-motion animation made with needle-felted wool.
Some children might be big fans of Molcars.
Here, we put your child on a Molcar made of cardboard and pull it along to move.
A child who loves Molcars might be delighted to ride.
Partway through, set them down, then run to the finish line carrying them.
From that point on, instead of carrying, you could hold hands and run together or give them a piggyback.
Secret Base Dome
https://www.tiktok.com/@mami_asobi/video/7397396632746183944Let’s secretly play in your very own room! Here are some ideas for a secret-base dome.
For children, a secret base is a special place that sparks their sense of adventure and imagination.
It’s an appealing space they can use freely—as their personal hideout or a place to invite trusted friends to play together.
This time, let’s make a secret-base dome using materials you already have at home.
You’ll need newspaper, plastic bags, and duct tape.
After making the walls and roof with the newspaper and plastic bags, blow air in through the entrance using a fan.
It will puff up softly and it’s really fun!
drawing
Drawing is a fun at-home activity you can enjoy even in short bursts of time.
For 1-year-olds, crayons are the recommended tool.
Let them pick a color they like and try drawing lines, making dots, or sketching simple shapes—most importantly, help them enjoy the act of drawing on paper.
While crayons usually look like thick pencils, there are also rounded crayons designed to be easy for 1-year-olds to grasp, so be sure to check those out too.
Enrich their sensibilities through drawing!
